How do I get large scale exposure to gain awareness and increase donation support for my nonprofit mission outside of my own social circle?

I have a start up nonprofit org. I am donating my time, knowledge, love and energy into helping people achieve and maintain optimal health and keep families together through wellness. I need awareness and donation support to make this goal happen.

Nov 16 2012:
Is your question about how to promote the importance of family wellness or how to to promote your own services?

If you want to promote wellness, you could consider contacting the many organizations in your area that already do that and ask what you can do to help. These will include health maintainance organizations, nonprofits focused on social welfare, community clinics, schools, boys and girls clubs, community centers .... Depending what you do, places like the Y or health clubs and senior centers might be involved as well.

You might want to take that approach even if you are specifically interested in promoting your own agency as opposed to wellness itself.

Generally speaking, nonprofits give a lot of attention to attracting attention and funding, which means an internet search should yield excellent resources, blogs, and newsletters on how to promote yourself.
I notice nonprofits also use well connected board members as a vehicle for outreach.
Good luck in your undertaking.

Nov 21 2012:
dee, another thing i thought of is an organization my mother belongs to, p.e.o. This is an organization of women who help young women get college scholarships. the women in the group are very prominent, you have to be invited to join. my mother's group meets twice a month, and each time they have a speaker. for example, once someone came and talked to them about fish king, which is a small, local gourmet seafood store, talked to them about how the business is run, the history of the business, some of the interesting things that have happened associated with the business. Once someone came from the l.a. zoo and talked to them about, yes, the sex lives of the animals. if there's a chapter near you, perhaps you can speak to them. peointernational.org is the website. if you spoke to the women in p.e.o., they might know about other speaking opportunities. by the way, noone outside the org knows what p.e.o. stands for, it's a secret.

I don't know if your local newspaper could help in your quest for publicity. when I have an idea i want to share, i often send a letter to the editor. they get printed about half the time. But i don't know if you can publicize an org this way, in my case i'm sharing an idea, not publicizing an org. If you have actual events, the newspaper would probably print the time and place.

I don't know how a tv station might help. i don't have a tv, so i don't know much about programming. perhaps there are shows that feature people like you who want to help the community.

Nov 19 2012:
Hello Dee,
I wanna congratulate you for the effort u showing in order to maintain Healthy families within the society.All i feel is the best approach to widespread your program is marketing.
In current aspect,the best tool for marketing is social media.Its the only platform where you can get in touch with loads of people.
Facebook is one you can create a group add people in it or post a status about your program in a group where they are n number of people.you can tag your friends on a pic stating about your program which there by will help others to know about it and many more ways.
Twitter too is an important media for marketing.Follow a person with large no of followers and re-tweet.
Linked-in is one more too where you can get in contact with professional network which in turn will also add a value to your program.
These will not cost you much except time.
Apart from social media,i think it would be good if you get in contact with well settled non-profit organisations.this will help you to find out different ways to reach out in a wider environment.

Nov 19 2012:
Chetan,
Thank you so much. I appreciate your insight and this info. The re-tweet with the right people is a big one I hadn't even considered because I do not know much about Twitter but I am going to sign up today and start re-tweeting. I am taking notes and creating a list of things to do to create more public awareness and bring in my donations for my org.
Thank you very much for reaching out from across the world. I love how the internet brings people together from all over.
Dee

Nov 18 2012:
Dee, I'm not clear on the goal of your org. You're helping people achieve and maintain optimal.........physical health? Mental health? Both? You want to keep families together through............physical wellness? Mental wellness? How is your org different from other orgs doing the same thing? It's hard to give suggestions when I'm not 100% clear on the goal of the org.

I have frequently listened to a radio program that often has guests from nonprofits. It's on a radio station that normally has rock music, but once a week they have an hourlong program on public affairs. I believe people who want to be on the program as a guest apply to be on.

When I go to community events, like my city has a big car show once a year, nonprofits often get to set up a table at the show.

Nov 18 2012:
Thank you for asking Greg,
This is a good question I will make a clearer emphasis on my mission statement at my website. I don't know if you visited my website or how much you read there. My focus is on Physical Health. My mother died of cancer having having been exposed to a toxic chemical. My aim is to help people detox and live a non toxic life to avoid this from happening. Prevent illness rather than treat it. When people face terminal illness their entire family is faced with becoming disjointed.

So will I will be providing

Coaching and education and supplies for detox
Coaching and education on shopping for and preparing healthier meals
Meal preparation classes
Teaching non toxic, natural alternative products we use on our bodies and in our house
I will provide holistic supplements and nutritional support.
I will teach plants growing wild for detox and nutrition, equal or better than store bought items for same purpose.

I would conduct group talks educating people to understand the importance of detox and healthier living so that they can live a joyful live in vibrant health and maintain their family unit through health rather than becoming disjointed through Disease.

Also I have created some healthy snack items that I would like to begin to manufacture to make available to schools, camps, orphanages, etc.. I would like to get my healthy creamy whipped fluffy chocolate mousse into school lunches.

If feel if my mom had access to these things she could have beat her cancer and enjoyed her life and family. I would like to help others so they do not have to face these types of tragedies when they can be avoided.

well, it's an interesting idea. What is your knowledge of herbs, have you studied them formally? I know my local Whole Foods supermarket has cooking classes where different outside teachers come in and present different ideas to people. Also, my local public library has speakers come in and present lectures, although in order to speak there you have to have written at least one book. Have you written a book?

Speaking for myself, I'm probably not terribly interested in herbs for nutrition. But I'm kind of different, I follow a really unusual diet, which is I live on milk. Every day I drink between one and two gallons of milk, and I don't eat or drink anything else. I've been doing this for about five years. I find I feel better on this diet than any other diet.

Nov 19 2012:
I'm self educated Greg. My mother was an herbalist. I took an interest in herbs at an early age and she started teaching me. I have studies wellness on my own over 22 years. I have taken many courses a long the way and studied under the biggest names in the holistic industry.

When I was little if I got sick I would not get nightquil, I would get a strong shot of Valerian tea, we ate bee pollen to boost immune. During my high school years I lived in a cabin in the mountains and learned about edible plants, wild edible flowers, wild garlic, onions, potatoes and fungus's that grow just about everywhere we are and ate them plentifully.

There is a good focus on herbs although mostly for detox purposes. My main focus is achieving and maintaining optimal health through detox, eating a balanced diet high in nutrition, eating healthy snacks, juicing for health, staying hydrated with the right fluids, getting good supplements, getting proper rest, getting adequate exercise at the level of each individuals ability, and cleansing their hearts and thoughts to find peace within and well being. I feel being well is fully encompassed and all areas need to be lovingly cleansed and reconditioned... body-mind-spirit. I can only help those who are open and willing to help themselves.

Feel free to contact me if your body ever takes a change with your current diet. Thank you for all the great tips!! Wishing you well
Dee

Nov 19 2012:
the radio program is called "OpenLine." It airs on KROQ 106.7FM here in Southern California from 6AM to 7AM Sunday mornings. I presume they're still airing it, I haven't listened for a couple of months. You can listen to it on the web. I don't know if you could be on this particular program, Dee. They emphasize local orgs, and their guests are always in-studio, in other words if you were accepted to be on, you'd have to travel to Southern California. But you can always apply, maybe you have some other reason to be down here and they could schedule you to be on the program while you're here. Or maybe you want to visit Los Angeles anyway and they could schedule you to be on the program.

When I mentioned the program I was thinking there might be similar programs up where you are. Also, some programs will allow their guests to phone in, they don't have to actually travel to the studio, so you might be able to find a program at a distance where you could phone in. Like, who knows, maybe there's a program in, just as an example, Ohio, where you might work as a guest, and you could phone in and talk. You'd just have to research.

Nov 17 2012:
Wow David,
It troubles me to know so many are still without electricity and modern conveniences. I hope you able to keep warm OK and get a hot shower, meal etc.. Really sorry to hear this.

I understand what it's like to go to bed without electricity and heat after living in the wilderness surviving off the land throughout my high school years. My heart goes out to you. If there's anything I can do to help please reach out.

A lot of people affected by Sandy are placing ads on the funding generating websites like the one I made this evening thanks to your link. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/278685?a=1771799
It might be worth reaching out for assistance, I'm seeing a lot of people reaching their target goals as Sandy victims are a very high priority right now.
Take care David, sleep warm.
Dee

the term 'crowd-sourced capital' may be of interest for your charitable concept.

When I read your question I was thinking, if there was a fund rising platform like 'kickstarter' (http://www.kickstarter.com/) for non-profit ideas and so I typed 'kickstarter for non profit' in a search engine and got some results already:

Nov 17 2012:
Don't forget, that YOU set out to help others in the first place! So it is just a tiny bit of support of those YOU reached and managed to inspire! That's why I truly hope you will get the funding you need to get started.

Nov 17 2012:
Thank you for the resource David! I will look into this. I do have a profile on crowd funding but again it relies on utilizing your own social circle. Mine is very small and I don't wish to burden my loved ones with pressure to spread the word for me much more than I already have. I need larger exposure. I appreciate your thought and input.
Truly
Dee

Nov 17 2012:
: ) send as many links as you like and thank you! You've got me thinking about who I know who knows people who can help. I will put the word out. I'm willing to turn over every stone.
Thanks again David.
Warmly
Dee

Nov 17 2012:
If you need any help feel free to ask. I am in the same boat in a way. Hurricane Sandy left me without power and is leading me down a path I am going to need help with. I am an engineer and a builder of things not a business person.

Nov 17 2012:
Hi David : ) Thank you for your input. I don't want to rely on my own circle of friends. My social circle is small and I don't wish to overwhelm my loved ones with donation requests. I'd like to reach out to the general public.

Although I think I may create a Google Plus profile and add random people who seem like they would be kind enough to pass the word around.

My question is in regards to reaching out to mass numbers of random people through avenues I hope to learn about by asking my question.
Thank you so much for your time and insight!
Dee

Nov 17 2012:
http://www.kickstarter.com/ and http://www.indiegogo.com/ work. I believe, but do not quote me on this, that indiegogo allows charity contributions. Look up crowd funding on google. You also have or had Amazon for charity.Plus your family and friends should be asked to spreading the word about your amazing venture to help people.

Nov 16 2012:
Hello Madhavi,
Yes I have websites. My friends on social media are emotionally supportive but not helpful. I have a small circle of friends and need to reach out beyond them. get an article written up somewhere in mainstream social media would help. Seeking grants is a solid avenue I intend to pursue although I would like to create more public awareness to bring in both public donation and corp funding as well.
I need to know who to contact and where to place my story and links.
Thank you
Dee

Nov 26 2012:
Hello Dee,
Social media can be used to selectively reach people who may be passionate about your cause beyond your circle of friends.
"to create more public awareness to bring in both public donation and corp funding as well. "
There is public awareness but to be realistic,many are skeptical and apprehensive towards holistic medicine for various reasons. Kickstarter, as some Tedsters suggested is a great start for funding.
"I need to know who to contact and where to place my story and links. "
By sharing your story in online magazines(for eg. magazines on natural /holistic health, alternative medicine, yoga), you may reach people who are more likely to be interested.